After in Costa Rica the mayor of Alajuela filed an action of unconstitutionality to revert the authentic interpretation approved by the deputies for the payment of real estate taxes applicable to free zones, the Chamber ruled negatively to the legal recourse filed.
The magistrates determined that the allegations presented on March 16, 2021 by Humberto Soto, mayor of the municipality of Alajuela, were incorrect and the appeal was rejected.
After the Mayor of Alajuela filed an action of unconstitutionality in Costa Rica to revert the exoneration of real estate taxes applicable to free trade zones, the business sector believes that legal certainty is being undermined.
On March 16, 2021 Humberto Soto, Mayor of the municipality of Alajuela, filed an action of unconstitutionality. This legal recourse has the objective of reverting the exemption that free zones enjoy for the payment of the real estate tax.
America Free Zone, located in Heredia, Costa Rica, plans to execute an investment plan in the next few years totaling close to $120 million and contemplates the implementation of electro-lane stations and the construction of new infrastructure.
Executives of the business complex informed that up to now they offer their clients 200 thousand m2 of space for business activities, but the medium-term plans are to add another 60 thousand m2.
From October 1 to 3, Guatemala will be hosting a Conference on Free Zones of the Americas, where topics such as the potential and benefits of companies in the sector will be discussed.
From a statement issued by the Association of Free Zones of the Americas:
Guatemala, September 19, 2018.- The Association of Free Zones of the Americas - AZFA - together with the Santo Tomas de Castilla Free Zone, Chamber of Industry, Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry of Economy, presented the twenty-second Conference for Free Zones of the Americas to be held from October 1 to 3 at Hotel Casa Santo Domingo, in Antigua Guatemala.
The National Rice Corporation states that adhering to the regional initiative blights what has been achieved in bilateral agreements with each country in the Alliance.
The Costa Rican agro industry has closed ranks against the country's accession to the Pacific Alliance. Both producers and the minister himself, Luis Felipe Arauz, have stated that the agreement is unfavorable for products such as rice, coffee, swine, beef cattle, ornamental flowers and strawberry growers.
They argue that joining the bloc offers growth potential for commercial partners who to date represent only 4% of total exports.
Enrique Egloff, president of the Chamber of Industries of Costa Rica provided support for this with figures which show that in 2015 Costa Rica's exports to the countries in the Pacific Alliance totaled $377 million and imports $1.786 billion.
There is still no legal framework to manage the international cooperation funds that would finance the implementation of the customs union between the two countries.
Even though the Central American Economic Integration Secretariat (SIEC) announced "progress" in the process of the Customs Union between Guatemala and Honduras, Elperiodico.com.gt denounced the obstacles preventing it, "...
The governments have confirmed that the process of technical implementation of the customs union will take between five to six months.
The Minister of Economy and Finance Ruben Morales referred to the process of the Customs Union between Guatemala and Honduras as "a gradual and progressive process, since its implementation will take five to six months. This process involves several institutions in the two countries. "
The decree approved by the Guatemalan Congress was the missing step needed to implement the free movement of people and goods between the two Central American countries.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Trade:
Guatemala, January 22, 2016. The Congress of Guatemala yesterday approved a Protocol Enabling the Deep Integration towards the free movement of people and goods between the Republics of Guatemala and Honduras.
The Solis administration has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese government to begin studying the feasibility of setting up a special economic zone in Costa Rica for enterprises from China.
As part of the agreement signed between the two governments, feasibility studies will be started along with defining where the zone will be sited.
The country wants to take advantage of the tariff preferences it has to export shoes to the United States and the European Union so as to attract foreign investment to the sector and turn it into an export platform.
From a statement by Pro Nicaragua:
All footwear manufactured in Nicaragua has duty free access to the United States, the European Union and other important markets.
From 12 to 14 November representatives from free zones in Latin America will be gathering together in Panama City to discuss issues such as changes in legislation and the role of free zones in the logistics chain.
The topics to be discussed range from innovation and new business in free zones and industries to changes to key legislation for the creation of logistic nodes.
Analysis of the impact of the Trans-Pacific Partnership on the region.
The competition which sectors such as textiles could face is one of the elements raising questions among employers in the region, compared to the real benefits that could be accrued if Central America participates in the Strategic Economic Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP).
The presence of direct competitors, such as countries like Vietnam, in the textile sector, and the possibility of losing dominance in the American market due to trade rules that TPP countries must meet, is unsettling the productive sectors in the region and forcing a reckoning of the pros and cons of a possible entry to the block to be undertaken.
The agreement between both nations to develop a Special Economic Zone will be completed in less than a year.
The project which the two countries plan to implement in the Central American nation will materialize in less than a year, benefiting sectors such as high-tech and manufacturing.
This was stated by the Costa Rican Minister of Foreign Trade, Anabel Gonzalez, who is on a visit to the Asian nation to promote FDI in Costa Rica, to boost tourism and find new avenues of cooperation with China, a country which according to Gonzalez , has trade reaching $6.2 billion.
On 22nd and 23rd of August entrepreneurs from 10 American countries related to activity of free zones will be meeting in Panama.
Representatives from Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Uruguay, the USA, Paraguay, Brazil, Ecuador, Argentina and Panama, will be taking part in the event organized by the Association of Users of the Colon Free Zone (AU).